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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ROUP, v.³, n.³ Also roop; rowp. [rup; occas. rʌup]

I. v. 1. To plunder, rob, ransack, deprive of one's all (Rnf. a.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) R.53; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Abd., em.Sc.(a), Wgt., Slk. 1968). Also in n.Eng. dial.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 231:
They've roopit her o' a'kin coin.Lnk. 1862 D. Wingate Poems 47:
Thy stream, Carbarns, I'll roop nae mair.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah vi. 13:
An' e'en tho' a tent' suld be spared; gin it braird, it sal clean be roopit.

2. To prune a hedge or tree very severely (Per., Fif. 1968).Per.⁴ 1950:
He's fairly roupin the hedge doon.

3. To take the marbles of a defeated opponent in the game of roopie, see n., 2. (Per., Fif. 1968).Ork. 1923 P. Ork. A.S. I. 67:
There was also another marble game known as “Roopie.” The winner annexed or “rooped” the marbles belonging to the unfortunate.

II. n. 1. A very severe pruning given to a hedge or tree (Per. 1968).Per.⁴ 1950:
The wey he's startin, it's a roup he's giein the hedge no a clip.

2. In dim. roopie, a game of marbles in which the winner claimed the marbles of the losers.Ork. 1923 P. Ork. A.S. I. 67:
There was also another marble game known as “roopie.”I.Sc. 1946 M. M. Banks Cal. Customs 7:
Games played in spring were ‘Barley', ‘Roopie', ‘Pookie', ‘Plunkie'.